Active Users:329 Time:03/07/2025 02:19:41 PM
Believe it or not, this is a thought I had when I was little and christian. Vivien Send a noteboard - 08/09/2011 07:39:24 PM
Not something I shared with the bible study teacher!

"What if I'm destined to turn my back on God when I grow up? I would spend eternity in hell. If I were to die now, I go to heaven. But I can't die because of my own actions, so then I still go to hell."

Mostly I had these thoughts in abstract, not about me specifically- I would see that some poeple turn away from christianity. I would look at a tragic death of little children, and wonder, what if it's for the best? They'll be in heaven forever but what if they would have been in hell for all time if they got the chance to grow up? However I'm pretty sure that I applied this this thought to myself at least once.





I remember coming up with this argument in college, and then becoming apathetic because no one could come up with a good response and yelled at me anyway.

So, is there an actual answer? (Or rather, are there any official answers according to various churches?)


The answer is that praying should bring you closer to god and that's it. It should give you comfort and peace and strength on the inside. You shouldn't ask for anything specific, but for god's will to be done. Mostly you're praying for inner strength. Kind of like, "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country". Same idea. Shouldn't ask for anything specific. In the case of a sick relative, you're praying for the best, and that could mean that the relative suffers less but not that he or she will not suffer at all. So you can't ever say that the prayer failed because it doesn't work like that.

If you really do want to ask for something specific, you have to realize that that's really selfish because the world does not revolve around you. What if getting your wish granted somehow means that someone else gets in a horrible accident? Stuff like that.
Reply to message
I figured I'd put RAFO's top religiologists on the case - 08/09/2011 02:03:55 PM 761 Views
The real answer is there is no effect because God is not real. - 08/09/2011 02:23:00 PM 390 Views
Right, I was working from that presumption - 08/09/2011 03:32:31 PM 379 Views
Re: Talking puppies! And kittens! I want! *NM* - 08/09/2011 03:34:49 PM 172 Views
well I am not religious but that seems a bit of a strawman argument - 08/09/2011 05:01:57 PM 405 Views
I don't know that I'm a "top religiologist", but here goes: - 08/09/2011 05:35:26 PM 499 Views
Re: I don't know that I'm a "top religiologist", but here goes: - 08/09/2011 05:53:36 PM 356 Views
Re: I don't know that I'm a "top religiologist", but here goes: - 08/09/2011 06:35:55 PM 445 Views
Oooh, can I be a top religiologist? - 08/09/2011 06:52:18 PM 503 Views
I can totally do this. - 08/09/2011 06:57:19 PM 401 Views
Believe it or not, this is a thought I had when I was little and christian. - 08/09/2011 07:39:24 PM 399 Views
Predestination is something only strict Calvinists believe. - 08/09/2011 08:53:59 PM 370 Views
Didn't mean to bring up predestination. - 08/09/2011 09:17:19 PM 396 Views
Sorry. That's how I read it... - 09/09/2011 12:48:07 AM 447 Views
It's not a risk you can refuse... - 09/09/2011 06:04:44 AM 378 Views
Many choices in life are risky. - 09/09/2011 03:15:49 PM 350 Views
It's a very silly argument that the T Rex is making. - 08/09/2011 07:22:23 PM 373 Views
I think that looking for an absolute answer re: religion is pretty silly. - 08/09/2011 08:22:16 PM 363 Views
wrong place *NM* - 09/09/2011 05:00:52 AM 149 Views
Prayer is not a request line. - 09/09/2011 05:03:10 AM 490 Views
That's a tough one... - 09/09/2011 01:27:25 PM 355 Views
That's part of the charm. - 09/09/2011 08:50:05 PM 345 Views
Re: That's part of the charm. - 13/09/2011 12:08:45 AM 442 Views

Reply to Message